Hello,
Many possible reasons for this.. Either way an infection is happening and a trip to your vet is needed. Eye issues are painful and can be one serious quickly. Good luck!
-Kelly
My Almost 5 Year Old Chihuahua/dachshund Mix Bit My 8 Month Old Daughter In The…
My almost 5 year old Chihuahua/dachshund mix bit my 8 month old daughter in the face a few days ago. He is currently “quarantined” at home for 10 days. He is a normally good dog. He has always been very protective, hyper and a bit jumpy of new people. He has growled at people before but never attacked. My 8 month old daughter and the dog have never had a problem, but this day they were sitting next to each other and she was petting him, and then she grabbed his tail and he turned around and bit her in the face. I can no longer feel comfortable with the dog in the house around her. I do not want to put the dog to sleep as I feel this was a pretty isolated incident but she is too young to learn from her mistake so I feel it is very necessary to find him a new place to live. I am weary of trying to find him a new home in the chance he bites again, and I do not want to have that guilt over my head. Also, he is showing no signs of rabies but he has become more anxiety ridden since the attack/barking at all noises/people outside (with being quarantined though, I believe he is feeling depressed and scared). *Side note – I have a 9 year old son as well, who has been with the dog since a puppy (and my son was 4) and they have never really had any issues. The dog would get upset sometimes but he has never bitten my son. *Another side note – we recently moved (About 3 weeks ago) into a new home, and he has shown more anxiety/jumpiness since the move. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I do care about my dog a lot and want him to have a good life as he is not that old yet.
15 Responses
Comments
Why Would My Dogs Eye Be Ozzing Yellow Stuff And She Won’t Keep It Open?
Why would my dogs eye be ozzing yellow stuff and she won’t keep it open?
1 Response
Comments
-
Kelly
My Standard Poodle Scratches Her Head And Snout Until It’s Raw And Bloody… Could This…
My standard poodle scratches her head and snout until it’s raw and bloody… Could this be a skin condition? I feel so helpless and don’t want her hurting herself anymore 🙁
2 Responses
Comments
-
teresa vogt Not a Vet, just looking thru the questions.. I have had Cats that would do similar to the back and tail.. it was thought to be an allergy.. some one cortisone shot later she stopped the chewing and rubbing we now give her a mild half childs dose of antihistamine.. Pets can be allergic to Fleas, Grass it is as wide as humans.. the shampoo used, it could also be a sinus flair up causing the need for the poodle to try to get the irritant out.. you might look at is there something that happens before she starts her active irritation like walk and sniffing.. rubbing face on Grass anything like that Wait for a Vet to give advice as to meds or dosages etc.. it may also be some type of scabies or other mite infestation.. I may be just missing it by a mile, I just wanted to offer my 2 cents worth..
-
Ashley Labelle I was told to give her Benedryl as it was probably an allergy. But it’s been continuous
My Standard Poodle Is A Little Over A Year Old And A Couple Months Ago…
My standard poodle is a little over a year old and a couple months ago I noticed her head was bloody. After having it cleaned out thinking she just scratched it on something… I noticed she would get irritated red areas on her head. And then would scratch and leave it raw and bloody… It’s happened multiple times now and this morning again when I woke up her head was full of dry blood and wounded. Could it be a skin condition? it’s only on her head and snout that this happens
2 Responses
Comments
-
Dawn Ferara, DVM It could be an allergy or a skin condition Iike a pemphigus however, a vet needs to examine your dog to make a proper diagnosis.
Good Luck
Dr Dawn
-
PK Dennis Just as Dr. Dawn mentioned, it would be an allergy, reaction to fleas, something going on with her thyroid, etc. Or it could be mange. I was just reading up on sarcoptic mange since one of my boys is showing signs of this — and read that it is often one of the most difficult things to diagnose. And as a result, it is suspected that this condition is severely under diagnosed! This article recommended that if a dog is severely itchy, with no fleas present, then they should treat for sarcoptic mange. Then, if that does not solve the itch, only then start working on the assumption that it is an allergy.
So, if you don’t have a flea problem I would take her to a vet and discuss sarcoptic mange.
How Long Should It Take For My Dogs To Get Used To A New Dog…
How long should it take for my dogs to get used to a new dog after I introduced them to each other?
1 Response
Comments
-
Kelly Hello,
It really depends on many factors. Every dog is different. Some dogs get along well with everything, while others take longer. Your dogs personalities will decide how they get along. Consult a trainer in your area if you are having problems
Good luck
-Kelly
I Have A Shitzu/poodle Mix.
She Is Lethargic, Hard Stomach And When I Squeeze Her Abdoment…
I have a shitzu/poodle mix.
She is lethargic, hard stomach and when I squeeze her abdoment lightly there is definitely some pain.
0 Responses
He Said That Surgery At Her Age Is Dangerous, She May Not Wake Up From…
He said that surgery at her age is dangerous, she may not wake up from the anesthesia. My dog scratched the tumor and its now a terrible looking open wound. I cant afford to take her to a vet, I have no income at this time. I know she has to be in pain & im worried about infection. Is there anything I can do to treat this ? Some type of topical med. or antibiotic ???
2 Responses
Comments
-
julie brader Hello JoAnne, I realise your dog is 14 years old and an anaesthetic, as the Vet informed you may not be the ideal at her age….you cannot leave her like this.
She has a large open wound on her stomach that is not only open to infection but must be extremely painful.
The tumour doesnt appear to be on a nipple but the underside of the top of her back leg?
You have to take her to a Vet urgently and you need to find the funds from somewhere to do it. Care Credit might be worth looking into…or perhaps you could borrow the money from family or friends. Your dog needs a Vet and she needs one now.
-
Dawn Ferara, DVM I agree with Julie and Krista
My 8 Month Old Kitten Won’t Eat, Drink And She Is Throwing Up White Foam…
my 8 month old kitten won’t eat, drink and she is throwing up white foam. She’s been throwing 2 times a day. What bis wrong with her?
0 Responses
My Dog Ate A Hand Sized Brownie Last Night That Was Expired, She’s Breathing A…
my dog ate a hand sized brownie last night that was expired, she’s breathing a little weird, but otherwise, acting completely normal. i can’t afford to take her to the vet, so what do i do?
9 Responses
Comments
-
Lisa Pfab How big is your dog? around what weight? Was the brownie dark chocolate? I think if your dog is not tiny it will be ok, maybe some shaking or throwing up.
It really depends on the size of the dog and their age and tolerance.
-
brianna capistrano @ Lisa, she is 10 pounds and a maltese
-
brianna capistrano she is a 10 pound Maltese. she’s been acting normal, barking, playing with toys, running, and hasn’t thrown up but she is taking meds because she has Addison’s disease, so I’m not sure if that’s the reason why she is breathing heavily.
-
Lisa Pfab that is a tiny dog, it may make her sick, try to have her drink as much water as possible to flush it out of her. It can make her sick
check this link out
-
brianna capistrano I read over a lot of links last night but I’m unsure of what to do
-
Kasia R I wouldn’t be concerned about it being expired but about the amount of chocolate in it and the type of chocolate! (ie: dark chocolate vs milk chocolate.) You said you can’t afford a vet but how about calling one and asking?? They often don’t mind answering a question. In my opinion, anytime a animal is having difficulty breathing, they need to see a vet. Can you borrow some money or make payment arrangements with your vet?
-
Lisa Pfab Is she drinking? keep her flushed with fluids. Unless this was a very dark chocolate, I think she should be okay, but keep her calm and dont let her run around. I had a dog eat a ton of chocolate, now it was a much bigger dog, and he threw up and was panting but in the end ok.
Good luck, if breathing gets worse get to a vet. -
PK Dennis Don’t worry that the brownie was expired – expiration dates are for the grocery stores and are not an indication of the safety of a food item. The thing to worry about is the amount of chocolate in the brownie. And unless the brownie had chocolate chunks/chips in it than the amount of chocolate is very small – probably between 1/4 to 1/2 of an ounce. With chunks or chips the amount of choc would be much higher and much more of a concern in this size dog.
So, if it did not have the chunks or chips I would just pay attention to her health for a few days (is she peeing, pooping, breathing normally), and would rush off to the vet only if I see changes there.
If it did have the chunks or chips I would induce vomiting (if it happened within the last few hours) and see if I could get most of it out of her system.
The rule in my house is that anything with chocolate has to stay on the kitchen counters and peninsula since those are the only places my dogs can not reach (all short legged terriers). No chocolate in my purse either because I can forget it is in there, but the dogs know! I have had my purse torn apart all for the love of one Andy’s after-dinner-mint.
I hope your girl is okay!
-
brianna capistrano Thank you! I’m not sure if there were chips in the brownie or not so I’m not exactly sure. Also, my dog is taking meds for Addison’s disease and her breathing is odd because of that so I’m not sure about her odd breathing patterns.
Maltese. 10 Pounds. Ate An Old Chocolate Brownie That Is The Size Of A Hand…
Maltese. 10 pounds. ate an old chocolate brownie that is the size of a hand. acting fine, playing, barking, running, but panting and has a weird breathing pattern. but she is taking medication because she has Addison’s disease
3 Responses
Comments
-
brianna capistrano what do I do?
-
brianna capistrano can’t afford to take her to the vet
-
brianna capistrano I called my vet and they said to bring her in but I can’t afford to
ANY sudden behavior changes should be met with a vet visit first to rule out any medical problems. please, take your dog to the vet and get him checked out. i’d also talk to a veterinary behaviorist about this situation.
DO NOT TAKE HIM TO A SHELTER! Doing so will condemn him to death. Even shelters that say they are no-kill often turn over dogs that have bitten to other organizations that then put the dog down. This allows the first place to keep their “no kill” label, but does not save the dog. These are highly strung dogs. You have made a lot of changes in his life, adding stress upon stress. I am not surprised that he defended himself in this way. The rule in my house is that NO CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF THREE gets to touch a dog, sit beside a dog, be allowed in a room alone with a dog. And – I do not approve any home with a child under the age of 7 to adopt one of my fosters since I feel 7 is the minimum age of reason in a human child (in other words at that age they can understand to LEAVE THE DOG ALONE).
If you have to remove that sweet dog from your home, call a reputable rescue in your area and try to find a good home for him. Perhaps his tail was pulled harshly and it was just a warning to your child, but I understand she is too small to know better. You can take him to a behaviorist and see what that say but please don’t put a family member in a shelter. Can you imagine what he would feel like after only know your family all these years. Best of luck to you!
Thank you for your honest advice.
This is one of the hardest situations I have ever had to deal with. He is definitely a family member, and this is why it is very conflicting for me. I have family members telling me to just send him to the humane society but I know what would happen and I cannot do that without feeling extremely guilty. If it was just me I would do anything to help the dog, but my husband does not agree. I am in a very difficult situation and heartbroken. I thank everyone for their honest advice and will take this all to heart and continue to soul search in which road I should take. I do not believe he needs to die in any way shape or form.
This is one of the hardest situations I have ever had to deal with. He is definitely a family member, and this is why it is very conflicting for me. I have family members telling me to just send him to the humane society but I know what would happen and I cannot do that without feeling extremely guilty. If it was just me I would do anything to help the dog, but my husband does not agree. I am in a very difficult situation and heartbroken. I thank everyone for their honest advice and will take this all to heart and continue to soul search in which road I should take. I do not believe he needs to die in any way shape or form.
i can’t imagine how difficult this is, but please, do the medical checks to make sure there isn’t something else going on. it’ll make it easier for a rescue to place him, as well.
The Humane Society should not even be on your radar! It is a sure death sentence for this poor boy. They take in so many dogs each year that they can only save the ones that are most adoptable! And a dog that has bitten is usually considered unadoptable by the HS. Your family members may mean well, but they don’t understand that by giving this boy a home you made a life long commitment to doing what is best for him – not just your human children. The only way to be sure he is not put to death is to keep the dog yourself (and work with a trainer to resolve the issues) or to surrender him to a Chihuahua Rescue. The Chi people understand the personality of this breed and will work to ensure he gets a home that understands how to work with his stress – helping him to be the best dog he can be. It comes down to how much time, energy and effort you want to expend to keep your family (dog and all) together. If you can’t make the time and spend the money for training then you have to find the Chihuahua rescue. Another option may be a ‘small dog’ rescue. There are some that specialize in small, feisty, dogs that have fear aggression issues.
Thank you, I will be looking into the Chihuahua rescue to see if they can assist me, I truly appreciate your help and honesty!
I don’t know where in the US you are located, but doing a quick search I found http://www.Chihuahua-rescue.org that is working out of the midwest. And there is a request form for more information on the Chihuahua Club of America at this link http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/contact-the-cca/contact-breed-rescue that may lead you to a person in your area for rescue.
Totally and absolutely agree with P K here. The brutal truth is you allowed this to happen by letting an 8 month old baby pull your dog around, and how many times has she done it before? Look at it from the dogs point of view, if someone was constantly poking you and pulling your hair what would you do?
You would retaliate. Which is just what your dog has done.
This is honestly not your dogs fault. You shut him away now and you are compounding the problem, I’m not surprised hes stressed and barking….dogs pick up on our emotions very well indeed.
Please don’t rehome this dog. Rather be sensible and keep your baby out of his way for both their sakes. Again I agree with PK I would not let a dog go to a home with a child under the age of 7 years when they are old enough to treat a dog with respect.
I had a problem like that, sometimes the Humane society won’t take a dog that has bitten before, also you would be killing that dog, also I believe I made the wrong choice by putting my dog down he was still a puppy (9 months old) but he had bitten and had drew blood, and I just didn’t feel safe around him, and like I said we put him down which was the hardest decision of my life, so I don’t want you to make a decision like me, be good and caring person and do not let that dog go, like you aid you had recently just moved and some dogs aren’t good with stress, and when you moved you cause your dog stress, don’t make the same ,mistake that I did and keep that dog, other wise whreveer you take him he will probably just die anyways, because not most dogs find good forever homes and live happily ever after your dog could likely get beaten or killed by others, so NO MATTER WHAT KEEP THE DOG.
Hey Brittany,
I just came across an article in The Whole Dog Journal about getting your dog ready to deal with a baby – this article mentions a company Family Paws Parent Education in Cary, NC which has a program, “Dogs and Toddlers” which is available to families through a worldwide network of more than 200 licensed presenters. Jennifer Shryock developed this program in response to a huge number of families that wanted to surrender a dog after an incident (bite) had already occurred with a child in the home. This program takes an in-depth look at helping the family dog successfully live with kids (and since he has been living with the 2 boys successfully I don’t think you have a big leap to hurdle!).
I can’t encourage you enough to give a trainer a try – they can help you design a training plan to keep everyone safe, while minimizing the dog’s anxiety.
One of the techniques recommended in the article is to teach your dog to be calm and happy in a room that is gated away from where the baby has access. This works best if it is a room where the dog can see your family. For example gate the kitchen so the dog can be in there with you while you cook and he can peek out and see the living room or family room. Since it is dangerous for babies to be in the kitchen anyway (hot food or knives falling, reaching for pot handles…!) it makes sense to let the dog be in there, but not the baby. The older boy can let himself through the baby gate to interact with the dog but the younger children are kept safely away in an area where they can be overseen but not touching the dog.
Ways to keep the dog happy in this space is to interact with him there, and when you are not interacting give him toys and chews to work on. A Kong stuffed full of goodness and then frozen will keep him content for hours. A trainer can help you with this!
I am just so worried for this sweet little guy! My best wish for him is that he stay in the home he has known his whole life, with the people he loves. But if that is out of the question I wish I could come scoop him up!
Great chart and videos about dogs and toddler supervision: http://familypaws.com/fpaw/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/5-types-Supervision-HR1.pdf
Thank you again for this information! I am full-heartedly trying to convince my husband that we can help our dog and keep him at the same time. He has had no prior aggressive behavior towards anyone in the family or anyone I bring into the home (the only aggression he has ever showed is to strangers when he is outside in the fenced yard – but I just think this is because he is very protective of his territory)…. I really do appreciate your opinions, help AND suggestions (rather than just being told I am at fault for everything).